Fossil Fuel Use Defended by Leaders of Oil World

Fossil Fuel Use Defended by Leaders of Oil World

Article excerpt

TULSA - Nuclear energy was attacked Tuesday by Dr.
Subroto, secretary general of the Organization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries, at the National Conference of State
Legislatures in Tulsa.

Subroto, Texaco Inc. Chairman Alfred C. DeCrane Jr. and Oklahoma
State Rep. William K. Brewster of Marietta took on global energy
topics during a breakfast meeting. The conference began Monday and
runs through Aug. 11.

While Subroto blasted nuclear energy as a dangerous alternative
to fossil fuels, DeCrane also chided U.S. officials for overreacting
to the Exxon spill in Alaska by pressing for alternative fuel
measures.

Yet, Brewster noted the increasing dependency of the U.S. on
imported crude supplies, which have risen to 47 percent from 42
percent last year, and the environmental aspects of the alternative
fuel arguments.

"Of course, all these issues have to be put in their proper
perspective, and treated with the appropriate amount of care and
discretion," Subroto said.

"Let us not confine ourselves to fossil fuels in our review of
the possible environmental `culprits.' "

Noting the devastation of the Chernobyl catastrophe in 1986,
Subroto said governments worldwide both industrialized and
developing have virtually abandoned expansion of the nuclear energy
industry. Furthermore, he asserted British scientists recently
declared that nuclear energy would not answer global warming
problems.

DeCrane said that while the Alaskan spill in March was
devastating, the industry has responded in a responsible fashion.
And, he said, alternative fuels in transportation are not necessary
to solve air pollution problems in the U.S.

"The idea of using alternative fuels to power motor vehicles has
become increasingly popular, despite the lack of conclusive evidence
that they would significantly reduce emission levels or improve air
quality more effectively or more economically than clean-up programs
applied to current fuels," said DeCrane.

DeCrane addressed methane, which has been identified as the most
likely choice for automakers, specifically as an alternative fuel
rather than natural gas. Technology for natural gas vehicles date
back to World War II, and it has been proven to be cleaner-burning
than crude oil products and coal in industry, the American Gas
Association has said. …